Cara F. Buchanan

Long-term survival following a single treatment of kidney tumors with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and near-infrared radiation

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) exhibit physical properties that render them ideal candidates for application as noninvasive mediators of photothermal cancer ablation. Here, we demonstrate that use of MWCNTs to generate heat in response to near-infrared radiation (NIR) results in thermal destruction of kidney cancer in vitro and in vivo. We document the thermal effects of the therapy through magnetic resonance temperature-mapping and heat shock protein-reactive immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrate that use of MWCNTs enables ablation of tumors with low laser powers (3 W/cm2) and very short treatment times (a single 30-sec treatment) with minimal local toxicity and no evident systemic toxicity. These treatment parameters resulted in complete ablation of tumors and a >3.5-month durable remission in 80% of mice treated with 100 μg of MWCNT. Use of MWCNTs with NIR may be effective in anticancer therapy.

3D in vitro bioengineered tumors based on collagen I hydrogels

Cells cultured within a three-dimensional (3D) in vitro environment have the ability to acquire phenotypes and respond to stimuli analogous to in vivo biological systems. This approach has been utilized in tissue engineering and can also be applied to the development of a physiologically relevant in vitro tumor model. In this study, collagen I hydrogels cultured with MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells were bioengineered as a platform for in vitro solid tumor development. The cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions present during in vivo tissue progression were encouraged within the 3D hydrogel architecture, and the biocompatibility of collagen I supported unconfined cellular proliferation. The development of necrosis beyond a depth of ~150-200 μm and the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α were demonstrated in the in vitro bioengineered tumors. Oxygen and nutrient diffusion limitations through the collagen I matrix as well as competition for available nutrients resulted in growing levels of intra-cellular hypoxia, quantified by a statistically significant (p < 0.01) upregulation of HIF-1α gene expression. The bioengineered tumors also demonstrated promising angiogenic potential with a statistically significant (p < 0.001) upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A gene expression. In addition, comparable gene expression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant increase of HIF-1α (p < 0.05) and VEGF-A (p < 0.001) by MDA-MB-231 cells cultured in the 3D collagen I hydrogels compared to cells cultured in a monolayer on two-dimensional tissue culture polystyrene. The results presented in this study demonstrate the capacity of collagen I hydrogels to facilitate the development of 3D in vitro bioengineered tumors that are representative of the pre-vascularized stages of in vivo solid tumor progression.

Photothermal Response of Human and Murine Cancer Cells to Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes after Laser Irradiation

This study demonstrates the capability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) coupled with laser irradiation to enhance treatment of cancer cells through enhanced and more controlled thermal deposition, increased tumor injury, and diminished heat shock protein (HSP) expression. We also explored the potential promise of MWNTs as drug delivery agents by observing the degree of intracellular uptake of these nanoparticles. To determine the heat generation capability of MWNTs, the absorption spectra and temperature rise during heating were measured. Higher optical absorption was observed for MWNTs in water compared with water alone. For identical laser parameters, MWNT-containing samples produced a significantly greater temperature elevation compared to samples treated with laser alone. Human prostate cancer (PC3) and murine renal carcinoma (RENCA) cells were irradiated with a 1,064-nm laser with an irradiance of 15.3 W/cm(2) for 2 heating durations (1.5 and 5 minutes) alone or in combination with MWNT inclusion. Cytotoxicity and HSP expression following laser heating was used to determine the efficacy of laser treatment alone or in combination with MWNTs. No toxicity was observed for MWNTs alone. Inclusion of MWNTs dramatically decreased cell viability and HSP expression when combined with laser irradiation. MWNT cell internalization was measured using fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy following incubation of MWNTs with cells. With increasing incubation duration, a greater number of MWNTs were observed in cellular vacuoles and nuclei. These findings offer an initial proof of concept for the application of MWNTs in cancer therapy.

Flow shear stress regulates endothelial barrier function and expression of angiogenic factors in a 3D microfluidic tumor vascular model.

Endothelial cells lining blood vessels are exposed to various hemodynamic forces associated with blood flow. These include fluid shear, the tangential force derived from the friction of blood flowing across the luminal cell surface, tensile stress due to deformation of the vessel wall by transvascular flow, and normal stress caused by the hydrodynamic pressure differential across the vessel wall. While it is well known that these fluid forces induce changes in endothelial morphology, cytoskeletal remodeling, and altered gene expression, the effect of flow on endothelial organization within the context of the tumor microenvironment is largely unknown. Using a previously established microfluidic tumor vascular model, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of normal (4 dyn/cm2), low (1 dyn/cm2), and high (10 dyn/cm2) microvascular wall shear stress (WSS) on tumor-endothelial paracrine signaling associated with angiogenesis. It is hypothesized that high WSS will alter the endothelial phenotype such that vascular permeability and tumor-expressed angiogenic factors are reduced. Results demonstrate that endothelial permeability decreases as a function of increasing WSS, while co-culture with tumor cells increases permeability relative to mono-cultures. This response is likely due to shear stress-mediated endothelial cell alignment and tumor-VEGF-induced permeability. In addition, gene expression analysis revealed that high WSS (10 dyn/cm2) significantly down-regulates tumor-expressed MMP9, HIF1, VEGFA, ANG1, and ANG2, all of which are important factors implicated in tumor angiogenesis. This result was not observed in tumor mono-cultures or static conditioned media experiments, suggesting a flow-mediated paracrine signaling mechanism exists with surrounding tumor cells that elicits a change in expression of angiogenic factors. Findings from this work have significant implications regarding low blood velocities commonly seen in the tumor vasculature, suggesting high shear stress-regulation of angiogenic activity is lacking in many vessels, thereby driving tumor angiogenesis.

Microfluidic culture models to study the hydrodynamics of tumor progression and therapeutic response

The integration of tissue engineering strategies with microfluidic technologies has enabled the design of in vitro microfluidic culture models that better adapt to morphological changes in tissue structure and function over time. These biomimetic microfluidic scaffolds accurately mimic native 3D microenvironments, as well as permit precise and simultaneous control of chemical gradients, hydrodynamic stresses, and cellular niches within the system. The recent application of microfluidic in vitro culture models to cancer research offers enormous potential to aid in the development of improved therapeutic strategies by supporting the investigation of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis under physiologically relevant flow conditions. The intrinsic material properties and fluid mechanics of microfluidic culture models enable high‐throughput anti‐cancer drug screening, permit well‐defined and controllable input parameters to monitor tumor cell response to various hydrodynamic conditions or treatment modalities, as well as provide a platform for elucidating fundamental mechanisms of tumor physiology. This review highlights recent developments and future applications of microfluidic culture models to study tumor progression and therapeutic targeting under conditions of hydrodynamic stress relevant to the complex tumor microenvironment. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 2063–2072.

Cross-talk between endothelial and breast cancer cells regulates reciprocal expression of angiogenic factors in vitro.

Reciprocal growth factor exchange between endothelial and malignant cells within the tumor microenvironment may directly stimulate neovascularization; however, the role of host vasculature in regulating tumor cell activity is not well understood. While previous studies have examined the angiogenic response of endothelial cells to tumor‐secreted factors, few have explored tumor response to endothelial cells. Using an in vitro co‐culture system, we investigated the influence of endothelial cells on the angiogenic phenotype of breast cancer cells. Specifically, VEGF, ANG1, and ANG2 gene and protein expression were assessed. When co‐cultured with microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC‐1), breast cancer cells (MDA‐MB‐231) significantly increased expression of ANG2 mRNA (20‐fold relative to MDA‐MB‐231 monoculture). Moreover, MDA‐MB‐231/HMEC‐1 co‐cultures produced significantly increased levels of ANG2 (up to 580 pg/ml) and VEGF protein (up to 38,400 pg/ml) while ANG1 protein expression was decreased relative to MDA‐MB‐231 monocultures. Thus, the ratio of ANG1:ANG2 protein, a critical indicator of neovascularization, shifted in favor of ANG2, a phenomenon known to correlate with vessel destabilization and sprouting in vivo. This angiogenic response was not observed in nonmalignant breast epithelial cells (MCF‐10A), where absolute protein levels of MCF‐10A/HMEC‐1 co‐cultures were an order of magnitude less than that of the MDA‐MB‐231/HMEC‐1 co‐cultures. Results were further verified with a functional angiogenesis assay demonstrating well‐defined microvascular endothelial cell (TIME) tube formation when cultured in media collected from MDA‐MB‐231/HMEC‐1 co‐cultures. This study demonstrates that the angiogenic activity of malignant mammary epithelial cells is significantly enhanced by the presence of endothelial cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1142–1151, 2012.

Flow Measurements in a Blood-Perfused Collagen Vessel Using X-Ray Micro-Particle Image Velocimetry

Blood-perfused tissue models are joining the emerging field of tumor engineering because they provide new avenues for modulation of the tumor microenvironment and preclinical evaluation of the therapeutic potential of new treatments. The characterization of fluid flow parameters in such in-vitro perfused tissue models is a critical step towards better understanding and manipulating the tumor microenvironment. However, traditional optical flow measurement methods are inapplicable because of the opacity of blood and the thickness of the tissue sample. In order to overcome the limitations of optical method we demonstrate the feasibility of using phase-contrast x-ray imaging to perform microscale particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements of flow in blood perfused hydrated tissue-representative microvessels. However, phase contrast x-ray images significantly depart from the traditional PIV image paradigm, as they have high intensity background, very low signal-to-noise ratio, and volume integration effects. Hence, in order to achieve accurate measurements special attention must be paid to the image processing and PIV cross-correlation methodologies. Therefore we develop and demonstrate a methodology that incorporates image preprocessing as well as advanced PIV cross-correlation methods to result in measured velocities within experimental uncertainty.

2D and 3D in vitro culture methods to investigate endothelial-cell enhanced tumor angiogenesis

The reciprocal interactions between endothelial cells and tumor cells to regulate angiogenesis is an important area of cancer research. However, understanding the influential role of endothelial cells on tumorigenesis is highly dependent on the culture systems utilized to study this dynamic and complex process. In contrast to 2D culture systems or the complex host environment of in vivo models, 3D in vitro cancer models have the potential to provide important insights into cellular differentiation, migration, and gene expression in a controlled and well-defined manner. Our preliminary results demonstrating increased cancer cell expression of pro-angiogenic growth factors (VEGF and ANG2) in response to 2D co-culture with endothelial cells motivated the development of a 3D co-culture system to further investigate this phenomena. Assessment of important morphological changes such as cell proliferation, migration, and vessel permeability in response to increased angiogenic activity will be better accommodated in a more physiologically relevant culture environment, therefore permitting the development of more accurate experimental conclusions.

Cancer cells cultured within collagen I hydrogels exhibit an in vivo solid tumor phenotype

Cells cultured within a 3D environment acquire phenotypes and respond to stimuli analogous to in vivo development. This approach can be applied to the study of tumorigenesis in vitro. In this study, collagen I hydrogels were engineered as a platform for in vitro solid tumor development. Cell seeding density, scaffold thickness, and matrix stiffness were varied to characterize the development of a hypoxic environment and necrotic core as well as the expression of a key angiogenic factor in breast cancer cells cultured within collagen I hydrogels. Limitations in oxygen and nutrient diffusion through the collagen I matrix along with competition among cells resulted in necrosis at the core of the tumor constructs and upregulation of both HIF-1a and VEGF-A gene expression. Constructs with a higher cell seeding density and greater thickness exhibited development of a necrotic core more rapidly than constructs where diffusion and competition were not deterrents. The results presented in this study demonstrate the capacity of collagen I hydrogels for facilitating development of tumor constructs that are representative of in vivo solid tumor progression.

Tissue Engineered Tumor Microvessels to Study the Role of Flow Shear Stress on Endothelial Barrier Function

As solid tumors develop, a variety of physical stresses arise including growth induced compressive force, matrix stiffening due to desmoplasia, and increased interstitial fluid pressure and altered flow patterns due to leaky vasculature and poor lymphatic drainage [1]. These microenvironmental stresses likely contribute to the abnormal cell behavior that drives tumor progression, and have become an increasingly significant area of cancer research. Of particular importance, is the role of flow shear stress on tumor-endothelial signaling, vascular function, and angiogenesis. Compared to normal vasculature, blood vessels in tumors are poorly functional due to dysregulated expression of angiogenic growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or the angiopoietins. Also, because of the abnormal vessel structure, blood velocities can be an order of magnitude lower than that of normal microvessels. Recently published work utilizing intravital microscopy to measure blood velocities in mouse mammary fat pad tumors, demonstrated for the first time that shear rate gradients in tumors may help guide branching and growth of new vessels [2]. However, much still remains unknown about how shear stress regulates endothelial organization, permeability, or expression of growth factors within the context of the tumor microenvironment.Copyright